C-300 Redcoat membership display at the C-300 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach kick off mixer. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix Festivities Begin With C-300 Mixer
It's that time of year, again, where the city begins to think about welcoming over 100,000 visitors to watch several races and attend activities that officially start with the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame induction ceremony on the sidewalk in front of the Long Beach Convention Center and culminates with a two-hour IndyCar race on Sunday.
For 37 years (can you believe it?), open-wheel cars with very powerful engines have been competing and the sounds of high-revving engines have echoed off of the sides of the skyscrapers along the harbor shore in downtown Long Beach.
The kick-off event that signals the beginning of this grand motor culture activity to most of the community conscious folks in Long Beach and surrounding environments is the party put on by the Redcoats of the Committee of 300, or C-300.
The C-300 & Toyota Grand Prix Kick Off Party is scheduled to be held this Wednesday - February 16, 6-9pm, at the Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway, Long Beach.
The Redcoats of the Committee of 300 volunteer each year to manage the granstands and support the activities that make up the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.
Long Beach Mayor, Bob Foster welcomes and applauds the efforts of the Committe of 300 at last year's Toyota Grand Prix Kick Off Party. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2010)More specifically, this Mission Statement excerpted and edited from the Committee of 300 -
To Promote, Support, Enrich and Direct the grandstand operations during race weekend.
To staff of the press room, photo towers, and TV carts during race weekend.
To provide a first rate hospitality area -the C300 Paddock Club- for our guests during race weekend.
To serve the community by providing volunteer support to such activities as the LA Auto Show, Christmas parades in the Long Beach area, decorating the Long Beach float for the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the Long Beach Marathon to name a few.
To promote the Grand Prix of Long Beach and its beautiful host city.
Reference Here>>
So, in about two months, and around tax filing due date time, the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach - the third stop of the 2011 IndyCar Championship Series will be held with a host of motor culture events to absorb just about any fan.
Schedule Of Events - 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach
THURSDAY, APRIL 14
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame Ceremony (Pine Ave. in front of Long Beach Convention Center)
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Tecate Thunder Thursday on Pine Ave. (incl. Tecate Miss Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Finals)
FRIDAY, APRIL 15
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
7:15 - 9:15 a.m. ALMS Practice
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo Opens
9:35 - 9:55 a.m. Team Drifting Demonstration
10:00 - 11:15 a.m. IndyCar Practice
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Toyota Pro/Celebrity Practice
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
2:25 - 3:25 p.m. IndyCar Practice
3:40 - 4:10 p.m. Toyota Pro/Celebrity Qualifying
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. IndyCar All-Driver Autograph Session (IZOD IndyCar Series Paddock)
4:20 - 4:45 p.m. World Challenge Practice
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. ALMS Qualifying
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Tecate Light Fiesta Friday Concert (Artist TBD)
7:00 p.m. Toyota Grand Prix Charity Ball at the Westin Long Beach
SATURDAY, APRIL 16
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
7:15 - 7:45 a.m. World Challenge Practice
8:00 - 8:45 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
8:55 - 9:20 a.m. Team Drifting Demonstration
10:25 - 11:25 a.m. IndyCar Practice – Split Groups
11:40 a.m. - 12:40 p.m. Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
12:55 - 1:55 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying 2:30 - 3:50 p.m. IndyCar Qualifying & Firestone Fast 6
4:30 - 6:30 p.m. TEQUILA PATRÓN AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES RACE (120 minutes)
6:00 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
6:30 p.m. Tecate Light Rock-N-Roar Concert (Artist TBD)
SUNDAY, APRIL 17
7:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:00 a.m. Lifestyle Expo Open
8:00 - 8:15 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
8:25 - 8:55 a.m. World Challenge Qualifying
9:15 - 9:45 a.m. IndyCar Practice
10:00 a.m. Grid Firestone Indy Lights Cars/Indy Lights Pre-Race
10:25 - 11:30 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights Race
12:30 p.m. IZOD IndyCar Series Pre-Race Ceremonies
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (Race number 3 of the 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series) 3:40 - 3:55 p.m. Team Drifting Challenge 4:15 - 5:15 p.m. SCCA Pro World Challenge Championships Race
5:30 p.m. Lifestyle Expo Closes
Tickets for the 37th Annual Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach found HERE>>
(SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE)
Come and enjoy an evening of camaraderie with the internationally renowned volunteer C-300 citizens of the greater Long Beach community and you too can become a Redcoat and be a part of a tradition of service wrapped in motor culture and good nature.
Again, The C-300 & Toyota Grand Prix Kick Off Party is scheduled to be held this Wednesday - February 16, 6-9pm, at the Hotel Maya, 700 Queensway, Long Beach.
Be there ... and become ... a C-300 Redcoat!
... notes from The EDJE
I remember reading about Brian Redman winning the first Grand Prix of Long Beach back in 1975 and thinking the Shadow Dodge DN6's of Oliver and Price just looked achingly cool despite the fact they did not figure in the results.
ReplyDeleteSeen some fabulous races on the TV from this facility not least GV winning in '79, Niki Lauda chasing down de Cesaris to win in '82 and in '83 John Watson and Lauda taking 1st and 2nd after starting 22nd and 23rd brilliant stuff.
Over here in the UK I did not get to see much of the Champcar and IRL races but now I have the internet that has changed :-)
Hope the red coats volunteers have a great party looking forward to the race in April :-)